DOMETIC 4 door refrigerator

[Frankie Z]

Replaced broken handle on domestic refrigerator door. It appears the refrigerator door handles ( left and right) are too close together to allow the door handles to open ( they hit against each other preventing door from becoming unlatched. The freezer door handles have a bit more space between them which allows door handles to open doors. Does anyone know how to get a bit more space between the two handles.? These are worst designed refrigerator handles in the history of RV refrigerators. I am open to any suggestions.

[Chuck_S]

Dometic got auto-spell corrected to Domestic?

Are you trying to open both of the pair of doors at the same time? Assuming you can open either door one at a time this may be a feature to keep them from accidentally opening on the road.

-- Chuck

[Frankie Z]

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

Dometic got auto-spell corrected to Domestic?

Are you trying to open both of the pair of doors at the same time? Assuming you can open either door one at a time this may be a feature to keep them from accidentally opening on the road.

-- Chuck

No just one at a time but if I force the Handle i know it’s going to break again. There is not enough room between the 2 handles they push against each other preventing the door from opening. I have to open freezer then bend the latch on the refrigerator door so it will open. It’s hard to explain if you don’t have this type of fridge.

[Chuck_S]

I understand the concept/interference. Moving the doors outboard will open the distance between them. Any slippage available at the hinges? Try this:

Loosen all hinge screws and place a shim between the doors and close them an put outward pressure on the hinges. Start with a thin shim and add to it until you can't close the doors with it between them. Tighten the screws to preserve the setting.

-- Chuck

[5picker]

I'd be looking to see if the door hinges are out of adjustment. They are not all like you describe yours being. This space between the freezer doors is the same as between the refrigerator doors.

This is our 2nd 4 door Dometic and neither have the issue you describe.

[Frankie Z]

Originally Posted by 5picker

i'd be looking to see if the door hinges are out of adjustment. They are not all like you describe yours being. This space between the freezer doors is the same as between the refrigerator doors.

This is our 2nd 4 door dometic and neither have the issue you describe.Attachment 189195Attachment 189196Attachment 189197

[Frankie Z]

Originally Posted by Frankie Z

Attachment 189207Attachment 189208Attachment 189209Attachment 189210Attachment 189211

I have uploaded pictures of my refrigerator if anyone has suggestions I would welcome them. Not sure how I would adjust these doors.
Thanks

[claudew]

I have a 2018 Forester and have the same issue with the refrigerator doors. I have not broken them yet but they are difficult to open, The service tech advised me to be careful with them because they have had to replace several door handles and they are not covered by warranty.

[jbrosecity]

We have the Dometic 4 door in our new Forester and don't have the problem either... maybe it was corrected in the 2019 models?

[awc4562]

I also broke the right refrigerator handle the first time out. After I replaced it, I realize on mine that if I open the left door first- then the right door opens easily. Just have to go with the flow.

[Frankie Z]

Originally Posted by claudew

I have a 2018 Forester and have the same issue with the refrigerator doors. I have not broken them yet but they are difficult to open, The service tech advised me to be careful with them because they have had to replace several door handles and they are not covered by warranty.

That’s great to hear. Unbelievably poor service after the sale. Don’t offer an alternative to an inherent problem just make it policy that they are not covered. One would think FR would intervene for their customers with Dometic.

[richard6335]

I think the name says it all. DOMETIC= mass produced junk. Those refrigerators are all problematic. Stays cool until you put food in them. Every camp site I hear RVers complaining about their DOMETIC refrigerator. I added three fans and it still creeps up to 42* soon as the food goes in. Food that came out of my house already cold.

[Kirk S]

The roomy Dometic 4 door refrigerator is nice but agree the handle system is terrible. Ours would not stay latched and when one handle finally broke I contacted Forest River and asked them to send me a replacement set which they sent without question.

After replacing the broken one it worked so well that I replaced the other 3 also. Being a pack rat, I'm keeping the old ones just in case.

Our unit was on display at a show so we had several other latch issues repaired under warranty where lookers were evidently careless.

Also have to agree about them not holding temperature. We keep ours on the coldest setting even when parked at home and use it for those times we need more refrigerated storage.
When empty the fridge stays at 33 to 35 degrees. As soon as I begin storing already cold food in it the temperature rises and runs around 36 to 38. When on the road and actually opening the doors a few times per day the temps run 40 to 42. Forget not running it on the road as it will go from 35 to 50 in an hour.

I'm looking at the 12 volt interior fans that clip on the evaporator fins to see if that will help.

[Gidyupgo]

Have the same refrigerator problems. We are just deliberately gentle when opening the doors and if one doesn't open easily we try the other side. I have measured and it seems like the center area of the fridge is squeezed perhaps because the cutout is too tight and they just force it in during install? It would be a major undertaking to test this theory.

[PondSkum]

We just brought our new Sunseeker 3050SF home yesterday. The handles were replaced yesterday morning by the dealer during the PDI due to one of them being broken while on the lot. Not even 30 mins after getting the rig home, one of the NEW handles broke off in my hand. Has anyone figured out a better replacement yet??

[emm-dee]

If you give the door a firm push inward before pulling the handle it will open a lot easier. Don’t know why but it definitely works. Probably something to do with varying the suction on the seals.

[Bill and Gail]

Originally Posted by emm-dee

If you give the door a firm push inward before pulling the handle it will open a lot easier. Don’t know why but it definitely works. Probably something to do with varying the suction on the seals.

X2, we push on the handle itself.

[emm-dee]

Originally Posted by claudew

I have a 2018 Forester and have the same issue with the refrigerator doors. I have not broken them yet but they are difficult to open, The service tech advised me to be careful with them because they have had to replace several door handles and they are not covered by warranty.

One of the handles broke on my unit. Sent Dometic proof of purchase date and a new one showed up four days later. No charge.

[PondSkum]

We had another handle break on ours, so we are bringing to dealer this week hopefully. They are going to "try something" suggested by Dometic before they will replace the entire unit with different design.

[claudew]

Keep us informed on what they did and if it worked. Thanks